Knitting machine



June 15 1926. 1,588,501 F. s. SHELAIN KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dem-15, Is Sheets-Sheet 1 June 415 1926'. 1,588,501

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June 15 ,1926. 1,588,501

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' Jae/275 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. SHELAIN, 0F ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSaIGNOR TO NELSON KNETTING COM- PANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed. December This invention relates to straight knitting machines having either single or parallel rows of needles and in which a pattern cylinder or the equivalent controls at least one row of needle In the present application I have illustrated my invention in connection with a straight parallel row knitting machine of the kind in which a single pat tern cylinder has been employed in prior machines to control only one row of needles for fashioning, as for example, for knitting,

' fabrics and patterns than was possible with prior machines of this kind.

The present invention is, moreover, an improvement in knitting machines of the type disclosed in the Nelson Patents Nos.

14:,308 dated April 15, 1879 and 576,881 dated l ebruary 9, 1897. The improvement consists generally stated in the provision of mechanism for controlling the front as well as the rear needles, this mechanismin the present embodiment acting in conjunction with the pattern cylinder for imparting needle control movements while the cylinder is at rest and supplemental to the control motion the cylinder itself, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide novel mechanism for knitting a mock rib or rib-like fabric as distinguished from a plain fabric. By the use of this mechanism 1 am enabled to produce a greater variety of fabrics, patterns and designs than was heretofore possible with machines of this kind. For example, heretofore it was customary to knit the foot and leg of a sock or stocking entirely of plain knitting on a machine of the kind referred to and to knit a rib top on a circular machine and then join the two fabrics together on a looper or by sewing or any suitable method.

. -iccording to my invention I secure sub- 15, 1924. Serial No. 755,816.

stantially the same effect, that is, a rib top sock or stocking having a foot and leg por- .tion of plain knitting and a top portion of mock rib or rib-like knitting, but the top portion is lmit directly onto the leg portion. The entire sock or stocking is thus knit as'of a single operation and comprises a one-piece ribfabric which is more durable than a twopiece fabric 'unitedby sewing, loopingor otherwise. All of the advantages of a full rib fabric are obtained and, in addition, the mock rib fabric is'more elastic than the ordinary rib fabric and the union between them is stronger. This is especially desirable in the knitting of hosiery; and my invention isnot confined to the use of this mechanism for knitting the top portion, but instead, it may be employed to knit any determined part of the sock or stocking.

It follows that a greater variety of designs.

may be produced in the leg or any portion of a sock or stocking; whereas heretofore with machines of this kind only one bed of needles was controlled, making it impossible to produce a uniform design or fabric by round and round knitting. l

A further purpose of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for controlling the jack-lever's of both front and rear rows of needles, especially in machines employing only a single pattern cylinder designed only for controlling one row of needles.

j Still another purpose is to provide mechanism of the character described which may be applied as an attachmentto machines of the Nelson type or to any employing a pattern cylinder. I

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l, is a front, fragmentary elevation "of knitting machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the machine looking at the left end thereof, that is, at the end remote from the driving mechanism; Fig. 3, is a fragmentary vertical section through the needle bed and pattern cylinder taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, illustrating the needle control;

Figs. 4; and 5, are similar sections showv and thus form -astitch.

the drawings only such particular application,

ing different movements of the needle con trol;

Fig. 6, is a somewhat diagrammatic or development View of the control mechanism within the pattern cylinder, looking outwardly as on the line 6 6' ofF 8;

Figs. 7, 8, 9, l1, 13, and 17 are diagrammatic views of the front and rear needles, showing different positions thereof;

Figs. l0, 12, 14: and 16, are detail views showing the four initial control movements described later; and

Fig; .18, shows-a present mach ani sin...

in disclosing: and describing thisinvention I have for purpose ofclarity shown in darts of a knitting machine. as are necessary for an understanding of theinvention, and reference may be had. to the aboveanentioned Nelson patents and to others in: this art for a more complete description and: disclosure of this particular type of linittingmachinel litv should be ni'iderst'oodi however that my invention in its broader aspect is not confmedto this but is applicable to other knitting machines. I

For conveniencev in description and in accordance With-the understanding in this art, that side-ofthe machine at which the work is discharged, namelythe right side viewing Fig; is called the front and the other the rear sideand, viewing Fig. 1, the end on the left is termed the left end of the machine and the opposite the right, throughout this specification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the main frame 21 carries upright side plates-22 and '23 which in turn support the front and rear needle beds '2 and 25' respectively. Each needle bed is suitably-consoclr. produced by the structcd for supporting in spaced relation a row of needles, the front and rear needles being indicated by 26'- and 2? respectively. Each needle is adapted to be advanced or projected upwardly from the full line position shown in Fig. '3 to the dotted line position in which to take the yarn from the yarn carrier designated generally by 28-, shown in Fig 2, and to be retracted to draw the yarn through the previous loop ontheneedle Each needle is in the present instance advanced and retracted by similar movements of jack, thejaclis for the front and rear needles being indicated by 29 and 31 respectively. The needles of each bed are. advanced and retracted by means of a cam slide designated generally by 32 having cams which act on an upstanding lug 33 on each needle'jaclr. Each needle jack 31 is controlled by a jack-lever 345 to raise and lower its lug 33 into and out of operative relation to its needle actuating cam, whereby to place its needle in or out of action asthe case may be, as is well understood in this art. The jack-levers '34 are in turn controlled by'a pattern cylinder designated generally by 35, each jack lever being pivoted at 36 and having projections 37 and 38 which bear against the pattern cylinder and are controlled by the camgrooves therein. The front needles 26 are thrown into and out of action by mechanism (:not shown) for raising and lowering the needle actuating cam as explained in said Patent No. 214,308. The card slides and yarn carrier are reciprocated in unison by mechanism (not shown) which is driven from a main drive shaft 39 (Fig. This-shaft is connected by spur gea 1:1 to a shaft 42 to which is fixed a cam gear 43 which operates a star pinion 44- in turn fixed to a shaft 45. This shaft has a fixed pinion 46 mesllng with a gear 4:? on the pattern cylii'ider. By means of this driving train the pattern cylinder and needle actuating cams are operated in timed relation. Theconstrnctionand operation of the foregoing parts are fully described in the Nelson patents above-mentioned and it is accordingly believed. that a more detailed description is not necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

In a machine of the character described it has been customary to knit the usual heel and "toe i'th the rear needlescontrolled by the pattern cylinder, during which operation the front needles are held down out of action, the front needles being brought into action onlydnring round and round knitting through the foot, ankle and leg portions. According to my invention I propose to control boththe front and rear needles by mech anism auxiliary or supplemental to but acting in conjunction with the pattern cylinder for the purpose of producing a variety of fabrics, patterns and designs. In the particular example herein disclosed, each altcrnate needle of both the front and rear beds is held out of action during each alternate round of knitting, with the result that a mock rib or rib-like fabric is produced. In other words the fabric comprises a. course knit forward andback on all of the front andrear needles respectively and a course knit forward and back with each alternate needle in the front and rear rows respectively, these courses being repeated to knit a tubular fabric of the desired length.

In the'preferred embodiment of my invention the mechanism for controlling the needle jacks is carried in part by the pattern cylinder and is in turn controlled from a controller cam designated generally by 48 coaxial and fixed with respect to the pinion shaft 45. This controller cam is therefore rotated in timed relation to the needle actuating cams and its present location is advantageous because it promotessimplicity and practicability. This controller cam is adapted to actuate one or more motion trains leading to the needle jacks and operating in part through or-in connection with the pattern cylinder. In the preferred embodiment a single motion train is employed for the needle jacks for the front and rear needles respectively, which will be separately described.

Referring first to the motion train leading to the rear needle jacks and more particularly to the jack-levers 34 therefor reference may be had to Figs. 3 and 6 which clearly show the construction. Motion is transmitted to this train of parts by the controller cam 48 acting against a pin or plunger 49 slidably mounted in the periphcral wall of the pattern cylinder in a plane substantially radial with respect thereto. The controller cam is cut away at three peripherally spaced points providing equally spaced high and low cam portions 51 and 52 respectively. The pin 49 projects beyond the cylinder and is adapted to bear against the periphery of the controller cam and to move lengthwise in its support in the cylinder wall by following the high and low portions of the cam. Said pin 49 at its inner end is connected to a lever 53 pivotally mounted at 54 on the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder. The-lever 53 at its end remote from the pin 49 is pivotally connected to one end of a rectangular frame composed of end members 55 and 56 and pin-carrying members 57 and 58. The end members 55 and 56 are pivotally supported intermediate their ends on a shaft 50, in turn suitably supported on the inner peripheral wall of the pattern cylinder. The pincarrying members 57 and 58 are pivotally attached at their ends through the intermediary of links 59 to the ends of the end members 55 and 56. The frame members 57 and 58 each carry a series of pins 61 which extend outwardly through holes in the cylinder wall .and are adapted to be projected and withdrawn by rocking the frame on the shaft 59 through movement of the lever 53 imparted by the controller cam. The pins 61 are so positioned as to'be-in registration with the projections 37 and 38 on alternate jack-levers 34 for the purpose of rocking said jack-levers when the cylinder is at rest in a control movement simulating the cam action of the pattern cylinder effected by rotative movement thereof. It will be manifest from the foregoing that a motion train is provided between the controller cam and certain jack-levers for the tilting the rectangular frame above-described so as to withdraw one set of fingers 61 and project the other and thereby rock the alternate jack-levers 34 in a clockwise direction to lower the jack lugs 33. This leaves the remaining alternate jack-levers undisturbed with their respective jacksin position to be operated by the needle actuating cam. Upon continued movement of the controller cam in the same direction the next following depression 52 will be brought into alignment with the pin 49, allowing the latter to be forced outwardly and the entire motion train moved in the reverse direction to reverse the position of the pins 61, this movement being imparted by one or more springs62 in this case attached to the inner wall of the cylinder and bearing outwardly against the pin-carrying member 58. It will also be noted that inasmuch as the motion train just described is carried by the pattern cylinder and has a motion transmitting part at a single point thereon, it will be brought into operative position or relation to the controller cam only once during a complete revolution of the cylinder. However when this point in the knitting is reached the cylinder remains abreast until a given, number of courses have been knit as determined by a suitable counting device. In the present case this is effected by cutting away several teeth in the cylinder gear 47 at a given point so that the pinion 46 will turn idly and by'providing a single tooth 63 v (Fig. 1) on the shaft 45 Which actuates a gear segment 64 which in turn moves the pattern cylinder after a determined number of courses during which the controller cam functions to control certain needles of the rear row as just described and similar needles of the front row as will be presently described, this being done while the cylinder is at rest. It will be further noted that the pinion 46 and consequently the controller cam 48 is actuated at the end of each stroke forward and backward of the cam slides, this'being effected through the driving train above-described including the star pinion 44 which has six equally spaced teeth, also that the controller cam is rotated one-twelfth of a revolution at each actuation of the shaft 45. The particular effect of this control motionwill be better understood from a description'of the general operation which will follow later and after a description of the second motion train operated by the controller.

The second motion train for the purpose "tion to the pin 49 and in such angular rela tion thereto as to bear against the controller cam 48 and be operated thereby. The pin connects within the cylinder to a lever 66 pivotally attached at'GO to the cylinder. The lever is inclined lengthwise of the cylinder (Fig. '5) so that its end 67 is' disposed beyond the end of the cylinder remote from the driving mechanism. A suitable flat spring, 68 interposed between the cylinder and. the lever 66 urges the latter in a direotion tOHlOVG thepin 65 outwardly against the col roller cam. Suitable means such as pins 69 liXed to the cylinder hold the ere tended end'67 of the lever from displacement. The lever 66 is adapted to operate the remaining part of the second motion train which leads to a series of jack-levers 71, one for each alternate front needle jack 29. These jack levers, pivotally mounted at 72 and each shaped to receive the rear end of a jack, are connected together by arod 7 3 for-swinging, them downwardly and upwardly'from the position shown in Fig. 3 to move the ack lugs 33 out of and into opera tive relation to the needle actuating cam,

thus throwing alternatefront needles out of and into action, respectively. The needle bed 2% is grooved deeper at its lower end as at 74- for each jack 29 that is lowered. A plurality of flat springs 75 attached at one 7 end to the bed 2st engage at theoppositc end beneath the rod 7 3 and constantly urge the jack-levers upwardly. The jack-levers are adapted to be lowered as a unit by down ward movement of a pair of arms 76 engaged over the rod 73 and fixedly connected to a rock shaft 77 mounted 1n brackets 78 attached to the under side of the bed 2%.

Said rock shaft has a forwardly turned arm 79'pivotally connected by a link 81 to a lever 82 which is pivoted at 83 on the side plate 22 and has an extended end 8% equipped with a shoe or striking plate 85 located in the path of the lever-end 67 and adapted to be actuated thereby. From the foregoing it will be manifest that when the pin 65 and the lever end 67 are brought into cooperative relation to the controller cam and shoe 85 respectively, motion may be transmitted by the controller 08.111 to the jack levers 71 through operation of the second motion train just described. Thus when the pin 65'is'moved inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 by rotative movement of the controller cam in a counter-clockwise direction the lever 66 will be rocked to move the shoe 85 outwardly and thereby rock the shaft 77 in a clockwise direction and lower the jack-levers 71 to throw the alternate front needles out of action. Outward move ment of thepin 65 when it enters'a :low portion 52' of the controller cam allows the springs 75 to raise the jack levers 71.

The, operationof my improvements for knitting a plain sock with a mock rib top as shown in Fig. 17 will now be described. The" knitting is started with the rear needles only which knit the toe 86 in the usual manaction.

the leg portion 89 is knit by both front and rear needlesin round and round knitting. This is the customary way of knitting a plain sock on a machine of the Nelson type. When. the point 91 is reached the needle con rolling mechanism carried by the pattern cylinder will be brought into operative relation to the controller cam forthe purpose oflrnitting the mock rib fabric abovereferred to, indicated in Fig, 18 by the top 92. p

In order to clearly illustrate the operation of the controller cam with respect to the needles have shown a series ofdiagramiatic views, Figs. 7 to 17 inclusive. These views are not intended to show the actual number of needles employed butv are intended merely for purpose of illustrating the movement of the-needles in and out of Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a single course of circular knitting comprising the forward stroke to the left in which all of the front needles 26,,shown advanced to take the yarn, are in action and will be drawn down in the knitting stroke as the yarn carrier and cam slides move to the left. During this stroke and following the retraction of the front needles the rear needleswill be advanced as shown in Fig. 8. This course is completed by the back stroke to the right in which all of the rear needles knit, leaving the front needles advanced as shown in Fig. 9. At the end of this back stroke the pattern cylinder wil be brought to. the position for the first controller cam movementand will remain in this position duruntil' amock rib fabric of the desired length has been knit, as. referred to above. The first controller movement at the point indicated by the numeral one in a circle, Fig. 9, is shown in Figs. 4 and 10, consisting in moving the pin-4l9 outwardly to throw the alternate rear needles out of action in the manner described above. On the next forward SLTOkQ all of the front needles are knit as shown in Fig. 9, but

ner described above. The pin 49 is undisturbed. by the second controller movement which, therefore, holds the alternate needles of both the front and rear rows out. of ac has moved one-twelfth of a revolution'and.

allowed the pin 49 to enter the next succeeding low portion 52 toreturn allof the rear needles into action and has held the pin 65 in the position with the alternate front needles out of action. On the next stroke to the left, that is, the forward stroke the alternate front needles held advanced as shown in Fig. 13 are knit and all of the rear needles will be advanced as shown in Fig. 15. At the end of this forward stroke the cam controller will be actuated in its fourth controller movement, denoted by four and shown in Fig. 16, in which the pin'65 enters the low portion 52 of the cam and restoresall of the front needles to action. On the next stroke to the right, that is, on the back stroke all of the rear needles which are advanced as shown in Fig. 15.

will knit, and all of the front needles will be advanced, as shown in Fig. 17. At the end of this back stroke the next succeeding high portion 51 of the controller cam will remove the pin 49 inwardly, thus performing the first controller movement, described above with reference to Figs. 9 and'lO.

This knitting operation will then be repeated until a tubular fabric of the desired length has knit, whereupon the pattern cylinder will be advanced to render inoperative the needle control mechanism just described.

It will be noted that the fabric produced under control of the controller cam 48 comprises alternate courses in which all of the front and rear needles are in action and intermediate courses in which alternate needles of the front and rear rows are in ac-' tion. This leaves alternate wales of continuous stitches and intervening wales of alternate stitches which produces a rib-like fabric. This fabric is more elastic than a plain fabric and is therefore very desirable portion of the tubular fabric. For example, the controller cam 48 maybe putinto'operation at the end of the heel 88 or at any point thereafter for knitting the remainder of the fabric. By the use of different coloredyarns for the front and rear needles various and distinctive designs may be produced. Furthermore by equipping the pattern cylinder 'with an additional lever and cam operated pin similar to the lever 66 and pin 65 but located at a proper position on the cylinder the front needles may be controlled before the heel 88 isreached, whereby to knit the upper portion 93 of the footaccordingto a pattern or design similar to the leg portion 89. In other words I also propose the use of plural auxiliary control mechanisms of the character described for both the front and rear needles, located at, any desired po-' sitions on the cylinder.

Itwill thus be seen that my invention 'contemplates arranging the supplemental or auxiliary needle control mechanism to knit a wide variety of fabrics and that the present disclosure is for purpose of illustrationf' It should also'be understood that my inven-' tion is not to be confined'to the details of construction shown herein, but that it is capable of application in various ways and by the use of equivalent devices, to any straight knitting machine. I, I claim as my invention: ,7

'1. In a straight knitting machine,-in combination, a bed of needles, jacks, jack-levers, a pattern cylinder, means for imparting rotative movement to the cylinder, and means carried by the cylinder adapted to be brought into cooperation with the jack-levers and operated by said cylinder-rotating means supplemental to the cylinder movement for changing the position of said acklevers. V I

'2. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a row of needles, jacks, j ack-levers, a pattern cylinder, and mechanism mounted within the cylinder for moving the jacklevers back and forth.

3. In a straight knittingmachine, in combination, a row of needles, jacks, jack-levers, a pattern cylinder, a needle-actuating cam, a controller operated intime relation to the needle-actuating cam, and mechanism car-- ried by the cylinder and operated by said controller to move certain jack-levers.

4C. In a straight knitting machine, in com bination, a row of needles, acks, jack-levers,

a pattern cylinder, a needle-actuating cam, a controller operated in timed relation to the needle-actuating cam, and mechanism car-' ried by the cylinder and operated by said controller to move certain jack-levers, said mechanism being carried within the cylin der and including jack-lever-operating and controller-operated elements projecting outwardly through the cylinder and adapted to beb-rought into cooperation with the jacklevers and controller by rotation of the cylinder. 7 r

In a straight parallel row knitting machine, in combination with the needles, jacks, needle-actuating cams, and pattern mecha nism for one IOW' of needles, of a controller operated intimed relation to the cams, and mechanism operated by the controller supplemental tothe action of said pattern mechanism for controlling the acks of both rows of needles'to put alternate needlesof each row out or action at alternate rounds of knitting.

6 Inastraight parallel row knitting ma chine, in-co1nbination with the needles, jacks, needle-actuating cams, and pattern cylinder, of a controller operated in time relation to the cams, and mechanism including jack op.- erating means carried by the cylinder and operated at determined times by SZL Id controllcr when said cylinde-ris at rest i'or controlling the jacks. of both rows of needles to put alternate needlesof each row out of action. at. alternate rounds of knitting.

7'. In a Nelson. type straight knitting machine, in combination with the front and rear rows. of needles andthe pattern cylinder for controlling the rear needles through the intermediary of jacks, of control means for rotating the cylinder, and mechanism operated by. said control means for operating both the. front and rear needle jacks.

S. In combination with the front and rear rows. of needles of a straight parallel row knitting machine, of a. pattern cylinder for controlling. the rear. needles through the intermcdiary of jacks, control memis for rotating'j the cylinder, and mechanism operated by said control means. for operating both the front and rear needle jacks, said mechanism including motion-transmitting elements 7 con nected with the frontand rear needle jacks and means carried by the cylinder and adapted to be operated by the: control means when brought into cooperative relation to said elements and means.

9. In a. straight parallel row knitting machine of the character described, the combination with the pattern cylinder operating pinion, of a controller cam on.- said pinion, and means carried by the cylinder operated by the controller CELHIIEOI rendering certain needles operative andinoperati've.

1O. In a straight parallel row knitting machineof' the character described, the combmation. with. the pattern cylinder operating pinion, of acontroller cam on said pinion,

and means carried the cylinderoperated by the controller cam for rendering certain needles of both the front and rear rows opera ativeand inoperative at determined times.

11. In a stiz ight parallel row knitting machine of the character described, the combination Withthe pattern cylinder operating and. a motion-traincarried by the cylinder and adapted 'to be operated by said controller cam tojrender certain needles of the: rear row operative and inoperative to the action of their needle-operating cam.

pinion,of a controller cam on said pinion,"

12.. In a straightparallel row knittingmachine of the character described, the combination wlth the pattern cylinder ope-ratingpinion, ot a controller cam on said pinion,

and a motion-train carried by the cylinder and adapted to be. operated by said co-ntroller cam to. render certainneedles of the front row operative and inoperative to the action 0% their needle actuating cam.

ments to shift certain jack-levers of needles in both said front and rear rows.

15. In a straight knitting, machine, in combination, a row of needles, jacks, jacklevers, a pattern cylinder, a cylinder operating pinion, a controller cam on said pinion, and. a motion-transmitting train carried Within and by the, cylinder including a; part extending through the. cylinder Wall and adapted to be. operated by said controller cam and a series of parts extending through the cylinder Walland adapted to; transmit motion to. certain jack-levers.

16:. In a strai'ght knitting machine,,i'n com.- bination, a row of needles, jacks, jack-levers, a pattern cylinder, a cylinder operating pinion, a. controller cam on saidpiniom and a motion-transmitting train carried .Within and by the cylinder including a part extending tb rough the cylinder Wall and adapted to. be operated by said controller cam and two. rows of parts: extending through the cylinder wall and adapted to. be brought into registration with certain lack-levers at opposite sides. of their pivot axes'wherebry to shift. said levers back and forth.

17. In. a straight knitting machine lntving a front. and a rearrow of needles, a pattern cylinder for controllingon-ly the. rear needles and a pinion for imparting rotative. mmment to the cylinder, of a. controller cam onsaid pinion, and means operated by said controller. earn and acting through the cylinder for controlling needles in-the front. row.

18. In a straight knitting machine having a front and rearro-W ot'needles, apattern cylinder for controlling only therea-r needles and a pinion for imparting rotating. movement to the cylinder, of. a controller canr on said pinion, and means operated by said its controller cam for controlling needles of both the front and rear rows.

19. In a straight knitting machine having a front and a rear row of needles, a pattern cylinder for controlling only the rear needles and a pinion for imparting rotating movement to the cylinder, of a controller cam on said pinion, and means operated by said con troller cam acting through independent motion trains for controlling needles of both the front and rear rows.

20. In a straight knittingniachine, in combination, front and rear rows of needles, a pattern cylinder, a cylinder operating pinion, a controller cam on said pinion, and means operated by said controller cam acting through independent motion-trains to respectively control the operation of needles in the front and rear rows.

21. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, front and rear rows of needles, a pattern cylinder, cylinder-operating means, a controller cam operated by said means, and means operated by said controller cam acting through independent motion-trains to respectively control the operation of needles in the front and rear rows. 7

22. The combination with a straight knitting machine having a front and a rear row of needles and a pattern cylinder for con trolling only the roar needles through the agency of cam surfaces onv the cylinder acting against jack-levers, of supplemental means on the cylinder acting When the latter is at rest to impart control movements to the jack-levers of both the front and rear rows of-needles.

23. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a row of needles, jacks, jacklevers, a pattern cylinder adapted by rotative movement to actuate the jack levers, and supplemental means on the pattern cylinder operative When it is at rest for moving certain of the jack levers to control certain needles in action supplemental to the rotative control action of the pattern cylinder.

2%. In a straight knitting machine, in combination With front and rear rows of needles, jacks, a pattern cylinder for controlling the jacks of only one IOW, and means on the pattern cylinder acting supplemental to the rotative movement thereof to control jacks of both the front and rear rows of needles.

25. In a straight knitting machine having a front and rear row of needles, needle-operating cams, jacks movable into and out of operative relation to said cams for bringing the needles into and out of action, a pattern cylinder for actuating certain of the jacks,-and means on the pattern cylinder operating When the latter is at rest to move certain of the jacks of both the front and rear rows into and out of operative position.

26. In a straight roW knitting machine, in combination, a front and a rear roW of needles, means for advancing and retracting the needles, means for controlling the needles in action including a pattern cylinder, means for, imparting step-by step movement to the pattern cylinder, and means operated by the last mentioned means for acting supplemental to the cylinder action to bring needles in both beds into and out of operative relation to their respective advancing and retracting means.

27. In a straight knitting machine of the Nelson type, in combination with the front and rear rows of needles and mechanism for operating them to knit a sock the leg portion of which is of plain knitting, of means operating When the pattern cylinder is at rest. for holding each alternate needle of each bed out of action When knitting the top portion of the sock, whereby to produce a rib-like top fabric as distinguished from a plain knit top fabric.

28. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a front and a rear roW of needles, a pattern cylinder for controlling only one row of needles, and pattern control mechanism operating When the pattern, cylinder is at rest for. controlling both rows of needles.

29. In a straight knitting machine, in

combination, a front and a rearrovv of needles, a pattern mechanism operating in step-by-step movements to control one roW of needles, and additional pattern mechanism opera-ting when the first mentioned pattern mechanism is at rest for controlling both rows of needles.

30. In a parallel rovv knitting machine in combination, a single pattern cylinder for controlling the needles of one row only, and supplemental pattern mechanism acting through said pattern cylinder When the latter is at rest to control the needles of both beds in alternation to produce a tubular mock rib fabric.

31. In a straight parallel roW knitting inachinein combination, a single pattern cylinder for controlling the needles of only one row to produce fashioning, as When knitting a heel, and pattern mechanism in addition to said pattern cylinder for controlling the needles of both beds to produce tubular mock rib knittin FRANK Gr. SI-IELAIN. 

